Downton Abbey': Season 4 premiere date set

In this image released by PBS, Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Grantham, is shown in a scene from the second season on "Downton Abbey." The fourth season of the popular British series will premiere in the U.S. on Jan. 5, 2014. (AP Photo/PBS, Carnival Film & Television Limited 2011 for MASTERPIECE, Nick Briggs)

PBS announced on Tuesday that the fourth season of its popular costume drama “Downton Abbey” will kick off on Jan. 5, 2014.

The news dashes any hopes that American and British viewers could watch the show at the same time.

In Britain, the series is shown in the fall, and American fans have been frustrated by a litany of spoilers. Last year, for example, the Internet was buzzing with the heartbreaking news about the death of a key character — Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) — long before the episode aired in the states.

Season 4 of “Downton Abbey” will cover eight weeks and conclude on Feb. 23. New cast members include Gary Carr, Kiri Te Kanawa, Tom Cullen, Julian Ovenden, Nigel Harman, Joanna David and Harriet Walter. In addition, Shirley MacLaine will reprise her role as Martha Levinson.

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In other PBS news, “Call the Midwife,” will return in January, for its third season.